INTEGUMENT is a term used to describe the outer COVERING of an organism, such as a plant or animal. It can refer to a COAT, COVERING, COVER, COATING, ARIL, SKIN, testa, or RIND. A COAT is a garment worn on the body, while a COVERING is something that covers or envelops something else. A COVER is something that covers or protects something, and a COATING is a thin layer of material that covers a surface. An ARIL is a fleshy or waxy COVERING around a seed, while SKIN is the natural outer COVERING of an animal. A testa is the outermost layer of a seed, and a RIND is the tough outer layer of some fruits and vegetables.